California Dreaming: Stinner Frameworks Ti Grinder

The crew at Santa Barbara’s Stinner Frameworks have been working incredibly hard over the last twelves months to build up the reputation the business now has for incredibly good bikes. But it’s not just their great frames, or even clever marketing, that makes a Stinner so desirable: it’s the team’s very obvious passion for riding.

Ok, so maybe it’s the bikes. Ever since the bikes Aaron built for the Mudfoot team, with graphics designed by Geoff McFetridge, came on the scene and nearly broke the internet, it seems cycling’s social media has been awash with Stinner frames, usually painted with the most radical schemes and graphics.

Very recently, titanium was added to the Stinner catalogue with Aaron’s first personal bike in three years — previously all models were available in steel only. This titanium gravel bike is the latest to leave the workshop, built for a tall Los Angeles local, who’ll be taking it into the Hills to explore the myriad trails around the outskirts of the city.

The goal of Stinner Frameworks is to always build the perfect bike for the customer, and this one comes pretty close. The stays are wide enough to accommodate 44c tyres, which are rolling on a pair of wheels by John Jones — Jones Precision Wheels — friends and neighbours of Stinner.

Salsa dirt drop handlebars and a Controltech stem will spearhead the dirt assault, followed by an ENVE CX fork. SRAM’s ultra-reliable and smooth Force 1×11 groupset provides the drive, and contact points are covered by Brooks and their cutout Cambium saddle — increasingly the saddle of choice for all-day adventurers.

Stinner Frameworks has recently moved into a new factory, and the quality of their recent builds looks like the move is working out for them. Even with it’s extraordinary geometry, there’s not a tube out of place. Special thanks to Gabe Fox for the photos.